Toilet bowl deodorizing device

ABSTRACT

A disposable toilet bowl deodorizing includes a housing containing a fan and a deodorizing air filter. The device includes a mounting mechanism that attaches onto the rim of the toilet bowl with the device positioned on the inside of the toilet bowl. A sensor detects presence of a person on the toilet seat and activates a blower or fan which draws air from inside the toilet bowl through one side of the unit, through the deodorizing air filter, out an exhaust side of the unit and back into the toilet bowl. The device operates at least during the time a person is present on the seat and for a period of time after the person leaves the seat.

This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/235,886 filed Aug. 21, 2009, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to devices that deodorize air in a toilet bowl.

SUMMARY

In general, the disclosure relates a disposable toilet bowl deodorizing device. The disposable toilet bowl deodorizing includes a housing containing a fan and a deodorizing air filter. The device includes a mounting mechanism that attaches onto the rim of the toilet bowl with the device positioned on the inside of the toilet bowl. A sensor detects presence of a person on the toilet seat and activates a blower or fan which draws air from inside the toilet bowl through one side of the unit, through the deodorizing air filter, out an exhaust side of the unit and back into the toilet bowl. The device operates at least during the time a person is sitting on the seat and for a period of time after the person leaves the seat.

In one example, the disclosure is directed to a disposable toilet bowl deodorizing device, comprising a housing having an air intake vent on a first side of the housing and an exhaust vent on a second side of the housing, a mounting mechanism attached to the housing that removably attaches the housing to a rim of a toilet bowl such that the housing is positioned inside of the toilet bowl and the mounting mechanism is positioned over the rim and between a space between the rim and a toilet seat, a deodorizing air filter positioned within the housing, a blower positioned within the housing that draws air from within the toilet bowl through the intake vent, through the deodorizing air filter to create deodorized air, and that blows the deodorized air out of the exhaust vent and back into the toilet bowl, and a sensor positioned to detect presence of a person on the toilet seat, such that when presence of a person is detected, the blower is activated for at least a period of time that the person is present on the toilet seat.

The details of one or more examples are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an example toilet bowl deodorizing device.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the example toilet bowl deodorizing device installed on the rim of a toilet bowl.

FIG. 3 shows the toilet bowl deodorizing device installed on the rim of a toilet bowl.

FIGS. 4-6 show alternative examples of a toilet bowl deodorizing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 are front and side views, respectively, of a disposable toilet bowl deodorizing device 10. The device filters odor from inside a toilet bowl and freshens the air after a person uses the toilet. The device mounts or otherwise attaches or clips to the rim of the toilet bowl 30. For example, device 10 may be mounted between the top of the toilet bowl rim and the bottom surface of the seat, as shown in FIG. 2. The device 10 may be removably attached to or mounted on any toilet and does not require alteration of the toilet bowl or the seat. The device 10 is designed to be small, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and disposable. In this way, a user is not required to clean the device, change the filter, change the batteries or perform any other maintenance that may require the user to come into contact with the device. Rather, after a period of time or when the deodorizing filter is no longer effective, or at some other time at the discretion of the user, the device may be removed from the toilet and disposed of. Because the device may be removed from the toilet bowl rim merely by handling the attachment mechanism 20, the user need not come into contact with the housing of the device itself

The disposable device includes a blower/fan 16 and one or more deodorizing air filter(s) 14 in a self contained housing 12. The relatively small, battery-powered fan 16 circulates air from within the toilet bowl through the filter(s) 14 to deodorize the air within the toilet bowl. In some examples, the device 10 clips, hooks, mounts, or otherwise attaches onto the rim of a toilet bowl 30 via an mounting mechanism 20 with the device 10 positioned on the inside of the bowl. When installed inside of the toilet bowl, the device is positioned inside the toilet bowl somewhere above water level. Because in this example when installed the disposable device is located within the toilet bowl, the device is not visible on the exterior of the toilet, which may result in improved aesthetics for certain users. In other examples, the device 10 may be installed so that it hangs on the outside of the toilet bowl, on a wall or other object near the toilet, or other appropriate position in which deodorizing of air may be accomplished. In addition, although in the examples described herein the device 10 is described as deodorizing air in or around a toilet, device 10 may also be used to deodorize air in a bathroom in general, or in any other location in which deodorizing of air is desired.

When a person sits on the toilet, a sensor 18, such as a pressure sensor, motion sensor, manual switch, etc., activates the blower 16. The blower 16 draws air in through an intake side of the device and forces the air through the carbon filter 14 and/or an air freshener where the air is deodorized. The deodorized air is then blown out an exhaust side of the device and back into the toilet bowl. Thus, the air inside of the toilet bowl will be circulated through the filter/air freshener, causing the air inside of the toilet bowl to be deodorized.

The sensor 18 that activates the blower/fan 16 may be a pressure sensor, motion sensor, manual switch, or other appropriate sensor or switch capable of detecting when a person sits on the toilet seat. For example, if the sensor is a pressure sensor, the sensor may be positioned anywhere between the rim of the toilet bowl and the bottom surface of the seat to detect pressure applied when a person sits on the seat. If the sensor is a motion sensor, the sensor may be positioned to detect motion on or around the toilet.

The filter 16 may be any type of deodorizing filter such as a charcoal filter, chemical filter, or other deodorizing air filter. The filter 16 may also include air freshener, or may be a combination of deodorizing filter and an air freshener. The filter may be located on the intake side of the blower or on the exhaust side of the blower. In another example, two filters may be used, a first filter on the intake side and a second filter on the exhaust side. In another example, a filter may be positioned on one side of the fan while an air freshener is positioned the other side of the fan. Other configurations using one or more filters and/or deodorizes are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

In some examples, a mounting mechanism 20 is attached to the housing 12 and removably attaches the housing to a rim of a toilet bowl 30 such that the housing 12 is positioned inside of the toilet bowl and the mounting mechanism 20 is positioned over the rim and between a space between the rim and a toilet seat, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, for example. In this example, the mounting mechanism 20 includes a first end attached to the housing 12 and a second end configured to be positioned on the outside of a toilet bowl rim. In other examples, the housing 12 may be mounted to the inside rim of the toilet bowl using suction cups, adhesives, or other mechanism for removably attaching the device to the inside of a toilet bowl. The mechanism for attaching the device 10 may also be used to attach the device to the outside of the toilet bowl, or to a wall or other object near the toilet or in the vicinity of the area in which deodorization of air is desired.

In use, the blower/fan 16 runs at least during a time that the person is present on the seat. Thus, if a pressure sensor is used for sensor 18, the device 10 may continue to run until the person leaves the seat. Alternatively, the device 10 may continue to run for a defined period of time after the person leaves the seat. For example, the device may continue to run for a defined period after pressure is no longer applied to the seat, or after motion is no longer detected in the vicinity of the toilet.

In some examples, the device 10 is relatively low power, and as such may run on commonly available household batteries, such as AA or AAA batteries, button batteries, or the like.

In some examples, the device 10 may be designed to be small, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and disposable. After the device 10 has been in use for a period of time, such as when the deodorizing filter is no longer effective or at the discretion of the user, the device 10 may be removed from the toilet (or other area in which it is being used) and disposed of. Because in this example the device is disposable, the user is not required to touch or replace the deodorizing filter, change the batteries, clean or otherwise come into contact with the device.

FIGS. 3-6 are alternative drawings showing alternative examples of a disposable toilet bowl deodorizing device 10. These devices include splash guards/fins, such intake fins 24 and/or exhaust fins 22 that may help to prevent water from splashing up from the toilet bowl and getting into the device. The fins may be directed up, down, sideways, or any combination thereof depending upon the intended orientation of the device once it is installed in the desired location. The splash fins may help to maintain effectiveness of the deodorizing air filter and air freshener and/or extend the life of the blower/fan by protecting the device from water damage.

Various examples have been described. These and other examples are within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A disposable toilet bowl deodorizing device, comprising: a housing having an air intake vent on a first side of the housing and an exhaust vent on a second side of the housing; an mounting mechanism connected to the housing that removably mounts the housing to a rim of a toilet bowl such that the housing is positioned inside of the toilet bowl and the mounting mechanism is positioned over the rim and between a space between the rim and a toilet seat; a deodorizing air filter positioned within the housing; a blower positioned within the housing that draws air from within the toilet bowl through the intake vent, through the deodorizing air filter to create deodorized air, and that blows the deodorized air out of the exhaust vent and back into the toilet bowl; and a sensor positioned to detect presence of a person on the toilet seat, such that when presence of a person is detected, the blower is activated for at least a period of time that the person is present on the toilet seat.
 2. The disposable toilet bowl deodorizing device of claim 1, wherein the deodorizing air filter includes an air freshener.
 3. The disposable toilet bowl deodorizing device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is one of a pressure sensor, a motion sensor, or a manually activated switch.
 4. The disposable toilet bowl deodorizing device of claim 1, wherein the blower is activated for the period of time that the person is sitting on the toilet seat and for a defined period of time after the person has left the toilet seat. 